Type-writing machine.



neimm. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATIQH FILED OUT. 6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-$31121 1.

Patented May 7, i912.

125G. LATTA.

TPE WRITING MACHINE. urmhnmn FILED 0016, 1905.

Patented May 7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

vet-w.

voluntary action of the type-bar during its I To all whom it mayconcern:

UNITED sTArn-s rAtrE vT onmoii.

EMMIT o. LATTA, or SYRACUSE, NEW $03k, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,T0

UNION TYPEWRITER COMPANY, or'mnsnv cm, New JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEWJERSEY.

Be it known that I, EMMITG. LATTA, Of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in

and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which thefollowing, taken. in

connection with theaccompanyingdrriwngs, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

the various parts of the type-bar action, and

to the relative association of these actions one with the other. In thisclass of machines, in which the type-bars are thrown upwardly andrearwardly from their normal to their printing positions, the availablespace for the reception and action of the type-bars is necessarily smalland the radial planes through which the type-bars swing are unavoidablybrought in close juxtaposition. It, therefore, becomes important to notonly reduce the number and weight of the parts of each individualtype-bar action, but also to cause each type-bar to respond quickly andeasily under. a comparatively light pressure of the finger upon itsactuating key lever, andat the same time to avoid any objectionable lostmotion or iiitravel to and from its printing position so as to permit arapid action of the several type-bars without liability of interferingone with the other.

My first object, therefore, is to reduce the number .of the parts,weight and cost of production of each type-bar action to a minimum, andto enable such actions to be assembled within the limited spaccin suchmanner as to leave ample clearance of .one type-bar from another in itstravel to and from the printing position, and particularly, when leavingits normal position of rest and returning from the printing position.

A further object is to make use of the compact arrangement of thevarious parts of each type-bar action in producin an accelerated motion,of the type-bar rom its position of rest to the printing point, which,

Specification Letters Patent. Application filed October a, 1905. ISerial No. 281,661.

rYPE-wm'rme Maonmn.

PatentedMay 7, 1912.

incidentally, requires a much lighter touch on the key to bring thetype-bar to the printing position. the Stateof New York, have inventednew Another object is to utilize portions of the essential elements of.each action for locking the type-bar against objectionable rebound whenreturned to their normal .po-

sitions. I v p A still further object is to utilize portions of thehanger for guiding the type-barrto sustain it "against lateralvibrationdiliring the printing operation, or while at the print ingpoint.

Other objects relating to the specific construetion and operation of theparts will be I brought out in the following description. In thedrawings- -Figure 1 is-a longitudinal vertical sectional View, fromfront to rear, of a portion of a front-strike typewriting machineshowing the type-bar supporting segment and my improved type-bar actionin its normal position, as indicated by full lines, and in its printingposition, 'as indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is. a similar view ofthe same parts, except that. one of the hanger-plates is reinoved,jan'dportions of the type bar and keylever are broken away. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the same parts seen in Fig. 2, but showing the parts infull lines as they appear when the type bar is in the printing'position.Fig. 4 is a rear face view of a portion of the type-bar supportingsegment and a series .of typebai' actions mounted thereon, one of whichis shown in section, .and alternate hangers are omitted for cle ai-nessof illustration. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modifiedform of type-bar, action, involving substantially the same principle asthe construction shown in Figs. 1 to at inclusive. Fig. 6 is a similarview of a still further modified construction of the type-bar action inwhich the key-lever is fulcrumed below;

the pivotal point of the auxiliary Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional viewt-l v a portion of the segment and indivi'du type bar. hangers withscrews.

It will be observed that in each of these type-bar actions, theaccelerated movement of the type-bar is produced by a rolling con- 1.their fasteningf each hanger are, therefore,

purpose is provided bar -2-. hanger above tact of the key-lever with itsauxiliary lever between the fulcrums of said levers and in each case,this contact changes or shifts from the fulcrum of the key-lever towardthe fulcrum of the auxiliary lever, as the key-lever is depressed tothrew the typebar to the printing position which is an important featureof my invention.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, Ihave shown a type-bar action consisting of ahanger 1; a type-bar -2; a key-lever -3- and an auxiliary or sub-lever lfor transmitting motion from the key-lever to the typebar, all of whichparts-are made of sheet metal, stamped to the desired form, andassembled in a manner hereinafter described, and supported by a suitablesegment a. This segment a is constructed and especially adapted for usein connection with my improved type-bar action, and for this with aseries of slots a cut in its rear face in radial planes converging atthe printing point for receiving and supporting the hangers -1-. Each ofthese hangers 1 is composed of two opposite, comparatively thin, metalplates or strips of somewhat reater vertical length than the vertical,wi th of the segment --ato which they are secured, each slot a'receiving the vcontiguous hanger plates or sides of two adjacenthangers, and the intermediate portions of the plates of spaced apart andserve to receive suitable fastening means, as screws, 5-, which arescrewed into the segment a and have their ends or heads engaged with therear edges of their hangerplates. I have described that these segmentslots are radial with the printing'point, and it, therefore, follows,that the portions of the hanger plates which are seated in said slotsare also radial with the printing point and are extended upwardly somedistance above the segment a in substantially radial ines for receivingbetween them the adjacent end or heel of the corresponding type-Theopposite plates of each the segment-w are rigidly connected byshouldered rivets -6- and -7--, which not only serve to tie the upperends of the plates together, but also hold them spaced apart asufiicient distance to receive-and permit the free action of thetype-bar 2- and the upper end of its actuatin lever 4-. The type-bar 2-is journa ed directly upon the pivotal rivet .6- and is provided with atoothed segment -8- which meshes with a similar toothed segment -9- onits actuating lever 4, the toothed segment -8- being concentric with thetype-bar pivot '6- while the segment --9- is concentric with the fulcrumof the lever 4-, which will be hereinafter described.

The upper ends of the opposite side plates 8- of the type-bar, and alsoto afford additional guide or support for guiding and sustaining thetype-bar against undue lateral vibration when moved to the printingposition. The tie rivet -7- serves to remforce or stifien the upper endof the hangerplates to prevent their spreading apart, such rivet beinglocated above the upper end of the lever 4. and a suflicient distance atthe rear of the front edges of the hangerplates to leave an open slot orspace for the reception and guidance of the type-bar when thrown to theprinting position. Each hanger 1 is secured to the segment, preferablyby two of the screws -5, one near the upper edge and one near the loweredge of the segment (z which affords a comparatively long radial bearingfor the hanger and enables me to use comparatively light sheet metalwithout sacrificing the rigidity of the hanger.

' The type-bars 2 are tical arc struck from the the upper portions ofthe hangers as well as the segment are preferably arranged in a similarare, but the lower portions of the hangers extend some distance belowthe lower edge of the segment -afor receiving and supporting thekey-levers -3- and auxiliary levers 4, both of the levers for eachtype-bar action being mounted u on and between the downwardly extendingportions of the opposite platesof their respective hangers so that thesame hanger in the action seen in Figs. 1 to 4. ipclusive, serves tosupport the type-bar 2, keylever 3- and auxiliary lever 4-.

The portions of the hangers 1 projccting below the posed insubstantiallyvertical planes and all terminate in substantially the-same horizontal plane some distance' below the horizontal plane of thekey-leversv-3, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the lowerends of the side plates of each hanger being rigidly connected, butspaced apart by shouldered rivets -10- a suflicient distance to receivebetween them the lower end of the corresponding auxiliary lever '4,which, in this instance, is fulcrumed upon the pivotal rivet -10. Thekey-lever -3- is fulcrumed at its rear end between the sides pieces orplates of its hanger 1 upon a suitable pivotal hearing, as a shouleredrivet -11-, similar to the rivets -6-, '7, and -10- which also serves totie the hanger-pla tcs together and still to space them apartsufiicicntly to permit an easy swinging: action of the key-lever.

segmentv-a are dis- 5 form of type-bar seen in'Figs. 1"to 4, the

pivotal bearing 'of the key-lever is located some distance above thefulcrunr of the auxiliary lever l-, and is, therefore, interposedbetween the fulcrums -6 and Owing to the fact that the lower ends of thehangers all terminate in substantially the same horizontal plane, it isclearly evident that the portions of 'such hangers be low thesegmentgradually increase in length from the center toward the ends ofsuch segment and the side pieces which f'ormthe hangers are, therefore,bent at the intersection of the radial with the'vertical lines of suchhangers, as best seen in Fig. 4. This difference in length of theportions of the hangers below the segment is therefore made tocorrespond with the curvature ofthe segment, and thekey levers andauxiliarylevers are fulcrumed or pivoted in the vertical portions oftheir respective hangers and are located one in front of the otherbetween the side pieces of such hangers, each in 'the swinging path ofthe other. It. is now ob.-

vious that e ach key-lever and the lower por tion of its auxiliary leverswing in the same verticalplane, but the upper portion of each auxiliarylever is radially disposed to correspond to the radial portion of itshanger and to allow it to play freely between the side pieces of suchhanger. The auxiliary levers are practically co-extensive in length withtheir respective hangers and, therefore, the portions of such auxiliarylevers below the segment gradually increase in length from the centertoward the ends of the segmentand swing in vertical planes while theupper portion having operative connection witlrthe type-barsntravel inradial planes coincident with'thoseiniwhich their respective type-barsswing. The rear end of each key-levervis elongated Vertically thusforming an angular extension or bell-crank having its rear face -12-convexed or cur vcd from its fulcrum,

as --l 1, toward the fulcrum, -10- 'of its corresponding auxiliary lever-l, thereby establishing a rolling contact with the front face 13- ofthe auxiliary lever,

which contact, is norn rally near the fulcrum of the key-leve r, butgradually changes from said fulcrum :toward the fulcrum of the auxiliarylever as the lg e'ydever is depressed. This manner of connection betweenthe keylever'and'its auxiliary lever causesthe upper end of the latterlever and its type-bar to move from the normal to the printing positionwith an accelerated action, and at the same time, enables the type-barto be started from its normal position of rest to-- ward its printingposition under a comparatively light touch upon the key-lever, andalthough the speed of action of the type-bar gradually increases undercontinued depres" sion of the key-lever, which implies that greaterpower is required to produce such accelerated motion, it must be bornein mind that the momentum given to the type-bar at the beginning of thekey-1ever stroke, compensates in a measure, for the extra power requiredto bring the type-bar to the printing position, and that owing tothismomentum the pressure upon the key-lever is nearly uniform throughitsentire stroke.

The key-lever and. auxiliary lever -4c. are returned to their normalposition by separate springs 14- and 15 respectively, either or both ofwhich operate in cidentally to, return the type-bar to its normalposition of rest through the medium of the connections between saidlevers and type-bar. The means for preventing objectionable rebound ofthe type-bar when forcibly returned to its position of rest consists inproviding the lower end of the auxiliary lever with a forwardly andupwardly projecting extension --16' forming a loop which embraces adepending portion -17- of" the key-lever 3'and bears upon the,

front face or edge of a boss 18 projecting forwardly from the pendant17--.

The boss or projection -18-- bears .against the inner end of theextension -16 above the fulcrum --10 of the auxiliary lever, but onlywhen the type-bar and its actuating levers are at rest, because therecess or loop in which the pendant 17 plays is so formed as'to permitthe boss 18 to free itself from contact with said 'extensioirassoon asthe key'lever starts on its down-stroke. This allows a free action ofthe type-barand its actuating levers to and from their positions ofrest, but prevents any objectionable rebound of the typebar whenreturned to such position and thereby enables the type-bars to be nestedclose together withoutliability of interfering one with the other underrapid action. It will beobserved that the lower ends of the sides ofeach hanger 1 are extended forwardly to lap upon thesides of theextension 16-- and pendant portion 17- of the levers 3- and ,4respectively and serve to guide and sustain such parts in operativeconnection while in action. The

retracting springs 14- and 15 of the levers 3 and 4 are mounted on theaxially projecting ends of their respective pivotal pins 11 and"10 withtheir ends interlocked with the hanger .-l andtheir intermediateportions attached to their respectlve levers 3-+ and 4 for retina-lingthe latter to their normal positions.

after each printing operation.

The action seen In Fig. 5 is similar to tions that seen in Figs. 1 to v4inclusive, except that the type-bar, as 2', key-lever as 3, andauxiliary lever, as 4' are pivotally mounted on separate supports, 20,2land 22 respectively, the supports 20 consisting of separate hangers,one for each type-bar which are removably secured to the segment, as-b-, by screws 5. In this device the upper ends is connected to itstype-bar by a link 8 and the pivotal pins, as 11 and 10 for the keylever3 and auxiliary lever 4' respectively are disposed in the same verticalplane at the rear of the plane inwhich thepivot, as 6' of the type-baris located, and the su ports 21and -22-- are disposed .m parallelhorizontal planes, one above the other, thereby bringing the fulcrums l0and 11- in parallel horizontal planes. The key-lever 3 is provided witha convex rear edge or rocker-face 12.-having rolling contact with thefront edge of the adjacent vertical portion of the auxiliary lever 4'betweenthe'fulcrums 10 and 11". and the auxiliary lever is also providedwith a forwardly and upwardly curved extension 16 which is engaged by aboss or projection 18 when the parts of the type-bar action are at rest,said key-lever and auxiliary lever being returned to their normal posibyseparate springs 14, and 15' re- I spectively.

i In Fig; 6 Ihave shown a typebar action comprising a type-barBO, akey-lever 31+:

and an auxiliary lever 32-", the type-bar being pivoted at 33-uponasuitable hanger 34, which in turn, is removably secured by screws-B5 to a supporting segment 36-, while the levers "--3,1-- and 32- arepivoted at and 38- respectively to separate horizontal supports 39 --and4O In this "latter-device. the pivots '3- 3,7 and 3 8- are disposed inthe same vertical plane. as in I'Tig."

1, but: the fulcrum of the key-lever isbelow that of the auxiliary andthe two lever-4 are connected by asuitable retracting spring --42, whilethe key-lever is-providcrl with an upward terminal extension -'l-..--having a rocker face -44 which engages the adjacent rear edge of apendant portion,

5- of'the auxiliary lever, and the latter lever is pivoted at 46 with alost motion directly to the type-bar. Itwill be observed that in each ofthese several devices the rocker arm of the key-lever is normally incontact with its auxiliaryor sublever at a. point near the fulcrum ofthe keylever and that such contact points shift progressively toward thefulcrum of the auxiliary lover. and in a direct line between theiulcrun'ls of said levers as the. key-lever is depressed for the purposeof producing an accelerated action of the type-bar. l't .Vill thus benoted that. th pw' s are conof each auxiliary lever.

relation without interference mg action and consequent friction betweensuch cont-acting parts is practically eliminated; that the type-bar islocked in its normal position of rest without the use of separate parts,and that the entire action in either case involves practically onlythree parts, viz! the type-bar, key-lever and auxiliary lever, thuspermitting all of thenctivc parts ,to be brought into close compactother.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that the entire system oftype-bars and their actuating mechanisms are assembled upon andsupported by the segment -a and that each type-bar action is supportedwholly upon one of the hangers -1- so that the complete system may beassembled upon the segment --aand then placed in position or removedfrom the machine or each separate action with its hanger may be removedor replaced separately from the others. In

one with the.

this class of machines. the type-bar is usually provided with two type,and either the platen or segment is made to shift to bring one or theother of the type to the printing point, but this shifting-means formsno part of my present invention, and it is therefore. unnecessary toillustrate or describe the same further than to state that in the deviceseen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and Fig. 6. the platen is preferablyshifted,

while in Fig.5, the key-levers and auxiliary levers are mounted onsupports, separate .'from the type-bar-support-ing segment to -enablesaid segment to be shifted relatively to the platen. The key-levers forthe different rows are usually of different lengths, while the type-barsswing through substantially the same arc, or degree of movement, andiuorder tha the dip, or amount of depression. or stroke of the key-leversmay be substantially the same. the curve of the rocker face for each ofthose type actions whichlms the longer sub-levers is struck from alonger radius than the rocker faces of those type actions which have.the shorter sub-levers. or in other words, this radius of eachsuccessive rocker face is gradually re duced from the sides toward thecenter of the system. The auxiliary levers, as 4, are preferably made inpairs. two at a given distance from the center of the segment of thesame length, but a the two lovers of each pair are connected tokey-levers of two adic nimr banks and consequent slightly ditferentlength, the rocking parts may be of slightly different curvature ifexactly the same dip is obtained, the difference in curve, however, isso slight that the curved parts may be made in pairs without materialdifference in dip.

In operation, the depression of the key lever, as 3-, against the actionof its spring, as ll, causes the rocker-face, as l2, on the rear end ofsaid lever to contact with the upright face 13- of the auxiliary lever-4;-, which contact gradually shifts from the fulcrum of the key-levertoward the fulcrum of the auxiliary lever, thereby imparting anaccelerated movement to the auxiliary lever, which accelerate-d movementis transmitted to the type-bar through the connection between theauxiliary lever and type-bar, said auxiliary lever being actuatedagainst the action of its retracting spring, as 15, which, together withthe retracting spring for the key-lever operate to return the key-lever,auxiliary-lever and its typebar to their normal positions of rest, inwhich position, the type -bar is locked against objectionable rebound bycontact of the boss or projection 18- with the adjacent face or edge ofthe extension -16-.

What I claim:

1. In a typewriting' machine, va type-bar arranged to swing upwardly andrearwardly, a detachable type-bar hanger supporting the bar, akey-lever, and auxiliary lever both pivotally connected to and removablewith the hanger.

.2. In a typewrit-ing machine, a slotted segment, a series of type-barhangers detachably seated in the segment slots, a type-bar,v

auxiliary lever, and key-lever pivotally connected to each of thehangers, the type-bar and key-lever being mounted upon their hangers andremovable therewith from the segment.

3. In a typewriting machine, a segment and hangers thereon, a series ofself-contained type-bar actions, each consisting of a type-bar, a keylever, and an auxiliary le ver, each pivotally connected to its hangerand removable therewith from the segment.

4. In a typewriting machine, a type-bararranged toswing upwardly andrearwardly, a supportingsegmenaand a hanger a pair of opposite sideplates pivotally connected to the type-bar, the hanger plates beingconnected to the segment below the type-bar pivot, and having upwardextensions rigidly connected by a separate part above said pivot.

5. In a typewriting .machine, a type-bar arranged 'to swing upwardly andrearwardly, a supporting segment, and a hanger "consisting of a pair ofseparate side plates pivotally connected to the type-bar the hangerplates being connected to the segment below the type-bar pivot, andhaving their upper endsj'extended above said pivotand 'rigidly connectedto form an open guide for the type-bar when at the printing point. 6. Ina typewriting machine, a hanger andva type bar action comprising atype-bar, key-lever and auxiliary lever all fulcrumed on the hanger andoperatively connected.

7.-In a typewritingmachine, a series of radially arranged upwardly andrearwardly swinging type-bars, a series of vertically movablekey-levers, a series of auxiliary levers operatively connecting thetype-bars to the key levers, and a series of hangers each acting tosupport and guide one of said type-bars, auxiliar levers, and keylevers.

8. In a typewri ing machine, a series of radially arranged upwardly andrearwardly swinging type-bars, a series of hangers each consisting 0 twoopposable parts, a series of auxiliary levers operatively connected tothe type-bars'at their upper ends and to the hangers at their lowerends, with a series of key-levers each having a rolling contact with oneof the auxiliary levels between the opposableparts of one of thehangers.

9. In a typewriting machine, a series of radially arranged upwardly andrearwardly swinging type-bars, a series of vertically movablekey-levers, a series of hangers each forming a pivotal support forconetype-bar and key lever,'with means to transmit and accelerate the motionof the key-levers to the type-bars. 10. In a typewriting machine, aseries of radially arranged upwardly and rearwardly swinging type-bars,a series of vertically movable key-levers, and a series of hangers ofgraduated lengths each formin a pivotal support for one type-bar andkeyever, with means to transmit motion from the key lever to thetype-bar.

11. In a typewriting machine, radially arranged upwardly and rearwardlyswinging type-bars, a series of vertically movable key-levers, and aseries of hangers each forming a pivotal support for one typebar,auxiliary lever, andkey lever, the upper portions of the hangers beingarranged in radial lines and the lower portions in substantiallyparallel vertical lines.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type bar, asub-lever, and a key lever having a rocking contact with said sub-leverto eflect an acceleration of the type bar as it approaches the printingposition, the parts being constructed and arlever to eifect anacceleration of the type bar as it approaches the printing position,

a series of I the parts being constructed and arranged so that a singletransverse vertical plane cuts the pivots of the key lever and subleverand the point of rocking contact between the key lever and sub-lever,and coacting means on the key lever and sub-lever which cooperate whenthe parts are in normal position to lock the type bar against rebound. I

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of upwardlyand rear- Wardly striking type right sub-levers, and a series of keylevers having a rocking contact on the sub-levers to-efi'ect anacceleration of each type bar as it approaches the printing position,the pivots of the type bars, sub-levers and key levers and the points ofcontact between the key levers and sub-levers being cut by a .smgletransverse vertical plane.

15. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of a series of upwardlyand rearwardly striking type bars, a series of upright sub-levers, aseries of key levers having a rocking contact on the sub-levers toeffect an acceleration. of each type bar as it approaches the printingposition, the pivots of the type bars. sub-levers and key levers and thepoints of contact between the key levers and sub-levers being cut by asingle transverse vertical plane, and c0- acting means on the key leversand sub levers which cooperate when the parts are in normal position tolock the type bar's against rebound.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of upwardlyand. rearwardly striking type bars, series of up right sub-levers whichincrease in length from the center to the sides of the system, a

bars, a series of up series of key levers, and curved .rocker faces ortreads formed on one series of said levers for rocking contact on theother series of levers to'eli'ect an acceleration of the type bars asthey approach the printing positlon, the pivots of the key levers andsub-levers and the points of engagement between the two sets or seriesof levers being cut by a single vertical transverse plane and the curveof each tread being gradually reduced or on a smaller radius as thecenter of the system is approached.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of upwardlyand rearwardly striking type bars, a series of upright sub-levers whichincrease in length from the center to the sides of the system, a seriesof key levers, curved rocker faces or treads formed on one series ofsaid levers tor rocking contact on the other series of levers to effectan acceleration of the type bars as they approach the printing position,the pivots of the key levers and sublevers and the points tween the twosets or series of levers being cut by a single vertical transverse planeand the curve of each tread being gradually reduced or on a smallerradius as the center 'of the system is approached, and co-acting meanson the key levers and sub-levers which cooperate when the parts are innormal position to lock the type bars against: rebound.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of October1905.

' EMMIT G. LATTA. \Vi tnesses OSCAR C. KAvLn, H. E. CHASE.

of engagement be-

